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Author Topic: HP Designjet T120 (knowing it's not a photoprinter)  (Read 12117 times)

USM

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HP Designjet T120 (knowing it's not a photoprinter)
« on: April 23, 2015, 06:49:22 am »

Hi!

I know the HP Designjet T120 is not a "Photo Printer" with 9 or more Colors, it is just a simple 4 color printer.
Similar to my 14 years old HP Deskjet which is still producing nice prints.

Does anyone have experiences with the T120 printer?
I want to use it for, of course not fine art printing, but for presentation prints with graphics AND some photos.
So I need sharp lines, sharp Text and a "good" quality for photos.

Thanks!
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USM

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Re: HP Designjet T120 (knowing it's not a photoprinter)
« Reply #1 on: April 23, 2015, 01:36:50 pm »

Nobody knows about the printing quality of this printer?
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enduser

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Re: HP Designjet T120 (knowing it's not a photoprinter)
« Reply #3 on: April 23, 2015, 09:22:54 pm »

We recently bought one. Leaving aside all the dye/pigment issues, this is a remarkable printer for the money. 24 inch, powered roll feed, sheet stacker on the back up to letter (or A4).  Auto cutter which  can be turned  off. Inkcarts could be bigger but they are cheap per ml. of ink and they are one for each color.

Printhead costs about $125 and is easily user replaceable.  HP state it will last the life of the printer. No bronzing and no gloss differential. On high gloss paper you would swear it has five colors, not three.

There has been some discussion of color changes after applying solvent spray coatings. We tried many and most did create some weird effects. We finally settled on Helmar matte which doesn't show visible changes after many weeks.

It also automatically corrects skew.

Downside is that it's a bit slow. If printing photos make sure you go for maximum detail in the driver.

« Last Edit: April 24, 2015, 07:09:05 pm by enduser »
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Phil Indeblanc

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Re: HP Designjet T120 (knowing it's not a photoprinter)
« Reply #4 on: April 23, 2015, 11:59:03 pm »

Why not a 6 color like the DJ 130?
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USM

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Re: HP Designjet T120 (knowing it's not a photoprinter)
« Reply #5 on: April 24, 2015, 02:04:09 am »

Why not a 6 color like the DJ 130?
There are just some used 130er.
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enduser

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Re: HP Designjet T120 (knowing it's not a photoprinter)
« Reply #6 on: April 24, 2015, 05:35:45 am »

130 is older tech, no powered roller, no cutter. If you can find a new one, it will cost more.
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USM

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Re: HP Designjet T120 (knowing it's not a photoprinter)
« Reply #7 on: April 25, 2015, 12:00:32 pm »

Leaving aside all the dye/pigment issues

Whats that  dye/pigment issues?
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enduser

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Re: HP Designjet T120 (knowing it's not a photoprinter)
« Reply #8 on: April 25, 2015, 11:32:11 pm »

It's a big topic.  I'll give you my take and others will probably chip in too.

Firstly, dye prints straight out of the machine will fade more quickly than pigment.  Just how they compare "as-is" isn't clear to me, but pigment is much more long lived.

Pigment has bronzing and gloss differential problems on glossy papers, dye prints have an even gloss and no bronzing.

Most art prints using pigment are therefore done on mat papers.

There are some good products designed to coat dye prints which give them a longer life.

Generally, it might be said that pigment print heads don't have the same life expectancy as dye ones.

It's a huge topic with many threads for you to look at.  I suppose the most asked questions among dye print people is, "How long, hung indoors and coated with professional spray products, are my prints going to last. The "going-to-last" bit is also debatable.

MHMG at http://www.aardenburg-imaging.com/ has the best data available on the topic.

Finally, because the T 120 uses pigment black, it is fast and reliable and cost effective for plans and drawings in, say, architecture offices.
« Last Edit: April 25, 2015, 11:35:11 pm by enduser »
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Phil Indeblanc

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Re: HP Designjet T120 (knowing it's not a photoprinter)
« Reply #9 on: April 27, 2015, 02:59:40 am »

The 130 does have a cutter!
HP z3200 doesn't have a mech roller either and it works just fine.
Whats nice about the 130 is that you can print on small 5x7 paper envelops or cut sheet from the tray or front feed.
The ink with limited paper combo claims 70 year life. Maybe spray helps to last longer.
It also can fit and sit on a desk if need be. In the few years I have used it, I have changed 2 heads.
The depth of blacks you can get from this printer I have yet to see on any other printer.

Mine is for sale....Its got the stand,, 2 roll spindles, a few years supply of ink, some new heads, and a few rolls of media. I have about 40 boxes of 50sheet Premium Satin and High gloss paper(13x19) I can part with some if needed.
I can also sell a EFI CONTRACT proofing software with it :-)

Its a solid printer. I would keep it if I hadn't purchased a 44" LF
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USM

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Re: HP Designjet T120 (knowing it's not a photoprinter)
« Reply #10 on: April 27, 2015, 03:20:37 am »

Thanks for the short lesson!

Seams like that the dye inks are mostly used in the cheaper Printers range...

But:
When I need a fineart print I would go to a printershop - for printing, mounzing, framing ....
So why holding a lot of inks in a printer, spending most of the ink for cleaning routiens ...
I had a HP 750c which was good for bw plans but just for that - its gone ...
I had a Canon A4 - doing everything printer - which was very bad printer - it gone ...
So I still use my 14 years old HP 1220c A3 printer which serves my need of at least A3 format ...
I am looking for a solution of having one printer from a4 up to A2 or bigger ...
Seams like the T120 is perfect.
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Phil Indeblanc

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Re: HP Designjet T120 (knowing it's not a photoprinter)
« Reply #11 on: April 27, 2015, 04:55:19 am »

Interesting read on the reviews.
http://www.amazon.com/HP-Designjet-Thermal-Inkjet-ePrinter/dp/B0098NY0MO

Its supposed to replace the 110 version of the DJ series.
So with stand and everything its about $1500, may include ship or maybe extra.
If you ever wanted to print photographs there is a gap between a 4 vs a 6 ink printer. After 6 it is more of a details differentiation.
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Ernst Dinkla

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Re: HP Designjet T120 (knowing it's not a photoprinter)
« Reply #12 on: April 27, 2015, 06:02:50 am »

Next to the number of ink channels the droplet sizes can not be ignored. The T120 heads produce a 12 picoliter black droplet (pigment) and 5.5 picoliter droplets for CMY (dye). The Designjet 130 had 6 ink channels, all dye, with 4 picoliter droplets each. To compare, the Z models have a mix of 6 and 4 picoliter droplet ink channels, 12 channels in total, pigment inks only.

For the task the T120 is made for the properties are alright and I guess the T120 could still be a nice base for a B&W ink set conversion too.


Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
December 2014 update, 700+ inkjet media white spectral plots



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enduser

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Re: HP Designjet T120 (knowing it's not a photoprinter)
« Reply #13 on: April 27, 2015, 08:42:16 pm »

Let's not forget that the T 120 can be had new in the US for $850.
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Phil Indeblanc

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Re: HP Designjet T120 (knowing it's not a photoprinter)
« Reply #14 on: April 28, 2015, 01:45:55 am »

How is the T120 better than the 130? The difference in a drive roll vs passive roll makes it a better printer?
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USM

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Re: HP Designjet T120 (knowing it's not a photoprinter)
« Reply #15 on: April 28, 2015, 02:02:36 am »

From my pov it is the pigment black, wireless and the costs.
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Phil Indeblanc

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Re: HP Designjet T120 (knowing it's not a photoprinter)
« Reply #16 on: April 29, 2015, 11:09:16 am »

Wireless and cost I would say can be the factors I would do it for. Otherwise the dye ink of the Vivera inks....I would say particularly the black, is the richest, darkest black I have seen of any printer, including the Epson, Canon and HP z line.
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USM

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Re: HP Designjet T120 (knowing it's not a photoprinter)
« Reply #17 on: April 30, 2015, 03:27:03 am »

We recently bought one.

Finally, because the T 120 uses pigment black, it is fast and reliable and cost effective for plans and drawings in, say, architecture offices.

It's a bit off topic, but:
Are you using the printer for plans and drawings?
I have to plot some .plt files created for a HP650c plotter - so they are HPGL2 files.
Can I print these files from a Mac directly on the T120 printer? Does the T120 printer/plotter support HPGL2 files?

If you are not used to these themes - just tell me ;)
Thanks
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enduser

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Re: HP Designjet T120 (knowing it's not a photoprinter)
« Reply #18 on: April 30, 2015, 09:19:59 pm »

We use it for limited color range artwork on canvas.  Several protective coatings.
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USM

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Re: HP Designjet T120 (knowing it's not a photoprinter)
« Reply #19 on: May 06, 2015, 11:14:34 am »

@enduser
Is it possible to put more than one sheet A4 or A3 in the printer or do I have to feed sheet by sheet?
Thanks.
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